# NTSB FTW02LA122: Cessna 172R, N58AF, McKinney, TX, April 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2002, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.179988, -96.58992 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1800&lon=-96.5899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54524/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54524 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA122 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing from landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis An 18-hour student pilot entered a left hand traffic pattern for a second supervised solo flight of stop and go landings. The student completed three stop-and-go landings without incident. During the landing roll of the fourth landing, he was not able to exit to taxiway "charlie" and was instructed by the tower to "make next taxiway." The pilot added power while taxiing to taxiway "delta," at which time he began to lose control of the airplane towards the left. While attempting to correct the problem, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and rolled into a drainage ditch substantially damaging the lower fuselage. A witness reported that "as the plane hit the ground, the aircraft proceeded to float several feet and make a strong turn to the left, and then proceeded to run off the runway, and hit nose first in the ground." ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2002, at 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N58AF, sustained substantial damage after it impacted a ditch following a loss of control during the landing roll on runway 17 at the McKinney Municipal Airport, McKinney, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to ATE of Texas, Inc., Dallas, Texas, and operated by American Flyers of Dallas, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. The local flight originated from the McKinney Municipal Airport at 0850. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the 18-hour student pilot stated he entered a left hand traffic pattern for a second supervised solo flight of stop-and-go landings. The student completed three stop-and-go landings without incident. The pilot was given clearance to taxi to parking after the fourth landing. During the landing roll, he was not able to exit to taxiway "charlie" and was instructed by the tower to "make next taxiway". According to the pilot, he added power while taxiing to taxiway "delta," and "began to lose control to the left. In trying to correct, I believe I made the situation worse." The airplane departed the left side of the runway and rolled into a drainage ditch where it came to rest upright. A witness reported that "as the plane hit the ground, the aircraft proceeded to float several feet and make a strong turn to the left, and then proceeded to run off the runway, and hit nose first in the ground." According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the lower fuselage between the firewall and the main landing gear sustained structural damage. Additionally, the left elevator, rudder, outboard right wing leading edge, propeller, left main landing gear, and the nose landing gear were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58AF-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 17280459, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280459 - Airframe hours: 5473 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Flyers - Registered owner: ATE of Texas, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, March 22, 2002, 68 hours before - Departed: TKI, McKinney, TX - Destination: McKinney, TX - Airport: KTKI, McKinney Muni, runway 17, 7,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: TKI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020413007459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020413007459A), Apr 13, 2002: Cessna 172R, Mc Kinney, TX, No damage. (-23) On April 13, 2002, at 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N58AF, sustained substantial damage when it encountered a ditch following loss of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54524. 960 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 443 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Operator (item 2, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Operator-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from Pilot Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Pilot%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.